Tearing-machine.



T. ALLATT.

TEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 30, |914.

Nm l \N rHE COLUMNA PLANOGRAPM 0,l WAsHxNGToN, D. c,

, i Nm. im

T. ALLATT.

TEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION min Nov. 30. 19M.

Patnted Apr. 25,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- E NM Y 'mE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. ALLATT.

TEAHING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONHLED Nov. 3o, 1914.

5 sHEETssHEET 3.

xl llnm Patented Apr. 25,1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANGORAPH cn., WASHINGTON. D. c,

T. ALLATT. WEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1914.

I I l l Patented Apr. 25, i916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 oooooooOoO/o .\|/1.

THE COLUMBIA PLArjoGR/wn co., wAsHxNo'roN. D. c.

T. ALLATT.

TEARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 3o. 1'914.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIM Co., WASHINGTON.` D. C,

THOMAS ALLATT, OF WEST NEW BRIGHTON, NEW YORK, `ASSICTNOR. TO HERRMANN, AUKAIVI 8c CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TEARING-IVIACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1914. Serial No. 874,626.

To all fro/tom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS ALLATT, a British subject, and a resident of West New Brighton, in the county of Richmond, city and State of New York, have invented a cer tain new and useful. Tearing-Machine, of which the'following is a specification.

My invention comprises means for tearing cloth; particularly, means for tearing cloth transversely or parallel with the woof or filling threads. It is particularly designed` for use in the making of handkerchiefs and other small piece goods from long strips of fabric.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, it is preferable to tear certain kinds of cloth, particularly linen cloth, rather than to cut it, for the woof threads are not always exactly at right angles to the warp threads, and if such fabric be cut, the cut may cross and sever some of the woof threads, whereas if the fabric be torn, the tear will follow the wootl threads without crossing them. Heretofore, in the production of handkerchiefs and the like from linen fabric, it has been customary to tear such fabric transversely by hand, because of the above stated advantage of tearing, as distinguished from cutting, and this hand-tearing has been a slow and laborious operation. By the machine herein illustrated and de scribed the tearing is done automatically, and at a speed such that one machine can do the work of a very great many hand operatives.

My invention consists in mechanical means for tearing a strip of fabric transversely, and at regular or spaced intervals; in means for regulatingthe distance between successive points of tear; in the novel tearing mechanism herein described; and in various other features, as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The objects of my invention are to provide automatic means for tearing cloth transversely and at spaced intervals; to provide means for adjusting the distance between successive points of tear; to provide eliicient tearing means; and generally to produce a machine which is simple, easily operated, and capable of high speed operation.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

'In said drawings: Figure 1 shows a top view of my tearing machine, a portion of the frame and of the adjustable table of the machine being broken away. Fig. 2 shows a central longitudinal vertical section of the machine. Fig. 3 shows a transverse vertical section of the machine on the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 4.- shows a side elevation of the machine, parts being broken away the same as in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a detail side view of a portion of the mechanism employed for adjusting the distance between succes sive tears, and Fig. 6 shows an end view of the same parts. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective elevation of one of the tearers in action, showing how it passes through the fabric and how the fabric passes over that tearer. Fig. 8 shows a top view of one of the tearer carriages, detached from the ma'- chine, and with the corresponding tearer slide mounted thereon; also the cloth clamping mechanism of the carriage. Fig. 8a is a detail side elevation of the cam which controls the action of the cutter which nicks the fabric to facilitate the initiation of the tear, and which controls the pad covering the tearer. Fig. 9 shows a central vertical section of the same parts on the line g/g/ of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section of the discharge end portions of the machine, on a scale larger' than Fig. 2, and illustrates particularly the action of the transverse tearersfeed cam and return cam on the tearer slide; and Fig. 11 shows an end view of the parts shown in Fig. '10, z portion of the frame of the machine being shown in section. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, of the receiving end of the ma chine. Fig. 13 shows a transverse vertical section of the machine on the line e-e of Fig. 12; and Fig. 14 shows a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 10m-fw of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective elevation of the supplemental adjusting device employed for making fine adjustments of the distance between tears. Fig. 16 is a face view of one of the cams which control the gripper lingers.

In this machine there are a plurality lof tearer carriages mounted on an endless conveyer of the belt-chain type, such carriages located at spaced intervals along such car- ]Patented apr. 25, 191MB. j

ing it forward as the carrier moves.

rier; which intervals are adjustable. The belt or chain carrier is mounted on sprocket wheels, one pair `of which sprocket wheels also serve to drive the chain carrier. The tearer carriages are provided with gripper fingers, automatically opened and closed,

which fingers open to permit the passage of` fabric between saidl fingers and gripping surfaces of the carriage and then close on the fabric. so holding the fabric and feed- In practice', I prefer to hold the fabric at one edge only, and so provide gripper fingers at one side only of each carriage. A tearer is mounted one-ach carriage to move transversely of the machine from one side of tbe carriageto the other. This tearer consists of a shoe acting initially at that edge of the fabric held by the gripper yfingers and acting initially about midway between such gripper lingers. Preferably I provide this tearer with a cutter which is caused to nick the fabric at the edge to facilitate the initiation of the tear. The tearer is moved along its carriage, and therefore across the fabric to be torn, by a stationary oblique cam, which encounters a projection of that tearer as the 'tearer is carried along the machine by' the said belt or chain carrier. After the completion ofthe tear the gripper fingersfare opened to permit the severed piece vof the fabric to drop. During the return motion of each carriage (as that carriage passes along the upper run of the carrier) the tearer of thatvca-rriage is returned by a similar oblique cam.

In the drawings, numeral 1 designates a suitable machine frame provided with fixed bearings for a sprocket shaft 2, and with guides for a longitudinally,adjustable support 3 upon which are supports for a fixed sprocket-carrying shaft el, adjustable longitudinally of the machine. Shafts 2 and 4 each carryv two sprocket wheels 5, located near the sides of the machine, the sprockets on shaft 4; being loose thereon, and over these sprocket wheels run link chains 6. For purposes of adjustment', as'hereinafter described, the chains 6 are not continuous, in theactual structure, but are each composed of a plurality of sections, corresponding sections of the two chains being connected by transverse tearer-carriages ashereinafter de# scribed, though the structure is such that the effect is the' same, during the operation of the machine, asif such chains 6 were continuous. Each length of the chains 6 is provided, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1. 2, 3 and 8-14l inclusive, with a tearer carriage comprising two properly spacedl transverse clamping bars 7 extending across the machine tothe opposite and corresponding chain-section 6; thesel bars 7 constituting means to which the fabric may be clamped (by means hereinafter described) for feeding said fabric, and for holding the fabric during the action of a corresponding tearer which, as hereinafter described, is mounted upon a slide arranged to travel, transversely of the machine, along said carriage on guide rods 8 provided in connection with said bars 7: (see particularly Fig. 11). The chains, and said carriages. constitute endless chain-carriers- Each tearer comprises a slide or base 9 (Figs. S, 9 and 1l) having sliding bearings through which the guide rods S pass, whereby said base 9 may slide over said rods 8; and upon this base 9 is mounted an inclined tearing shoe 10, constituting the tearer proper, having in it a slot 11 through which the end of a cutting knife 12 may project; (in Fig. 9 this knife is shown in retracted position). During the tearing operation lthe tearer projects downward from its carriage, in the inverted position shown in Fig. 7, since the cloth to be torn passes beneath the plane of the lower rum of chains G. Fig. 9 shows the tearer in the position occupied during return movement, e., upright. As the tearer starts to move from left to right of the machine (as the parts are viewed, for example, in Figs. 8 and 9) the edge of the fabric encounters the edge 13 of the knife 12 (then raised slightly from the position shown in Fig. 8, by a cam 11i-Figs. 8 and S) and such knife makes a slight cut in the edge of the fabric, and then is permitted, bythe cam 1.4:, to drop to the position shown in Fig. 9, the fabric -riding up on the shoe 10, and being torn thereby. A pad. 15, usually of leather or like flexible yet durable material, covers the slot 11, being carried by a support 16 pivoted to a lever 1S at 17. The fabric passes between this pad 15 and the shoe 10 said pad holding the fabric down upon the shoe 10 and so enforcing tearing of the fabric by said shoe. The cutting knife 1Q is carried by the lever 18 forming a part of the support 16 for the pad 15, and it will be seen that when the cam 11, acting upon the roller 19 on the end of the lever 18, raises the knife 12 (when the tearer is at the extreme left hand side of the machine) it also raises the pad 15 to facilitate the passage of the edge of the fabric between said pad and the shoe. When the cam 1l permits the knife 13 to drop, it also causes the pad 15 to drop upon the fabric. This pad 15 holds the cloth smooth and taut during the passage of the shoe 10 through it.

Cloth to be torn comes from the right of the machine as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, for example, passing over the table 20 and thence to the undersides of the chains (i, and beneath the first pair of transverse gripping bars 7. These gripping bars carry pivoted gripping lingers 2] (Figs. 8 and 9). Each gripping nger 21 is pivoted at 22 to 1,1so,eee

its corresponding gripping bar 7 and has a rear extension provided with a slot 23 in which works a roller 21 mounted on a plate 25 pivoted at 26 to an extension 27 of the corresponding gripping bar 7 and having a pivotal connection 28 to a slide rod 29, mounted to slide upon the corresponding gripping bar 7 and provided with a spring 30 tending to pull it outward; which tendency communicated through the roller 24: to the upper edge of the slot 23 of gripping finger 21, tends to press that gripping finger down against the gripping bar 7 or against material between that gripping bar 7 and gripping finger 21. As the gripping bars 4 pass downward over the front sprocket wheels 5, a roller 31 carried by a cross-piece 32 connecting two corresponding slide bars 29` encounters a fixed cam 33 (Figs. 14 and 16) carried by the shaft 4'(which shaft does not rotate), and by the cam the roller 31 isv forced inward or to the right of Figs. 8 and 9, thereby causing the corresponding plates to open or raise the gripping fingers 21. The cam 33 is of such shape that this opening movement is gradual. As the gripping fingers 21 pass around beneath the fabric the cam 33 releases the roller 31 and slide bars 29, permitting the springs 3() to draw such slide bars slightly to the left of Figs. 8 and 9, so closing the fingers 21 on the fabric and holding such fabric between such gripping fingers 21 and the gripping bars 7. Naturally, as movement of the tearercarriages to the left of Figs. 1 and 2 and 12 continues, the fabric will be drawn onward. Gripping fingers 21 are provided on one side of the machine only, as I find it desirable to have the fabric held on one side only and loose on the other side. Shortly after the fabric is thus gripped by two gripping fingers mounted on a pair of gripping bars 7 a roller 34 projecting upward (with the parts in the position then occupied) from the tearer slide 9, encounters an oblique feed cam 35, having the form of a diagonal angle bar, curved slightly at its initial end. This cam 35 presses the tearer across the machine, causing the cutting knife 12 to cut the fabric slightly at the edge and then retire. as previously explained, and then forcing the tearer shoe 10 into the cut just formed, and causing that tearer to rip or tear the fabric transversely. The incline of the cam 35 is such as to carry the tearer to the opposite side of the machine before the gripping bars 7 carrying such tearer have reached the rear sprockets 5. lt will be seen that by the operation of the tearer as described, the fabric is torn completely across. As the gripper bars 7 pass around the rear sprockets 5. another cam 36 similar to cam 33 previously mentioned, encounters the roller 31, so opening or raising the gripping fingers 21, and permitting the piece of fabric so oblique cam 37, whereby that tearer is rei turned to the right hand side of the machine (as viewed in Fig. 3). This return cam 37, like the feed cam 35, is curved slightly at its initial end, for the purpose of accelerating the tearer gradually.

It will be noted that during the tearing operation the cloth is held at the side of the machine at which the tear starts, and on each side of the point at which the tear starts. There being nothing to confine the cloth beyond the point at which the tear starts the tear will follow the transverse threads of the fabric.

Each tearer carriage, formed by a pair of gripping bars 7 and associated parts, is provided at both ends with rollers 38 which ride upon angle irons 39 (Fig. 13) attached to the frame of the machine; the weight of the carriage being thereby carried by the angle irons and rollers. Other rollers 40 carried by each carriage, and bearing against the sides of angle irons 39, take the end thrust produced in feeding the tearers across the machine.

In order to facilitate introducing a strip of cloth into the machine at the starting of operations, each carriage is provided with a hook 4:1 (Figs. 12 and 13) which is engaged with the end of the strip of fabric to draw the strip through the machine. ln practice. with two carriages in the position indicated in Fig. 12, one just above the sprocket wheels 5, and the other just below such sprocket wheels, the end of the fabric would be engaged with the hook 4.1 of the upper carriage. Then, the machine being started, as this upper carriage passes around the sprockets 5, to the under side of said sprockets, it will draw the fabric with it, (the gripping fingers of that carriage being Opern) so avoiding any occasion for the operator to insert his hands into this portion of the machine. After the gripping fingers 21 have gripped the fabric, it is of course immaterial that the end portion of thefabric is still held by the hook; for the small portion of the fabric between the end and the first tear is wasted. As the gripping fingers are released from the fabric at the discharge end of the machine, the severed lengths of fabric drop. V

As will be understood readily. the machine illustrated is adaptable for acting upon fabric strips of different widths, without adjustment. But it is frequently desirable to adjust the distance between succes sive tears; for handkerchiefs are square. asa

rule'. Tthis1 end"each of the chains 6 is composed 'ofla plurality of'chain sections, as previously stated; One end of each chain section-6 is securedrigidly between two projectingipl'ates'42, forming la support'for a spr'cketwheel43, the other end of such chaini'section being secured to the sprocket wheel 43 .neXt. beyond and passing more or less completely 'around such sprocket wheel.

Each sprocket wheel 43S is locked, normally,

by a .pin 44l engaging between teeth of such sprocketwheel,"such locking pin 44 being carried by a stirrup 45 mounted upon a rod 46 *extending transversely of the machine "from near one chain-6 to near the-opposite chainf.4 Springs 47'tend tohold the pins 44 in engagement with the sprocket wheels; but whenit is desiredto change the adjustment ofdistance betweenl tears, the stirrups -45 ofthe several locking pins may be moved inward against the springs 47 and the sprocket 'wheels 43 may then be `rotated to take up or let out as many chain links as desired,and then the' pins 44 renegaged withthesprocket wheels. The 'shaft' 4 is mounted upona ysliding support 3,V as previouslyexpl'ained; and as the chains 6 'are drawn up'or let-out, asthe'case may be, this support?) is shifted longitudinally in or out "as required'.I -To facilitate drawing the [wheel 53 (Figs. 4, 5 and) is drivingly connected to one of the 'sprocket wheels 50 and a lever 54 is provided with a pawl' 55 adapted to engage-the teeth kof this ratchet wheel.

Pull rods 56 vand a chain 57 connect arln 54 to a foot treadle 58. A spring 59l tends to raise lthis treadleand also to move the arm 54 to the right'of Figs. 4 and'5. f A locking screw I60 normally prevents-any motion: ofV lever 54. Ity will be apparent that if this locking screw 60 be unscrewed, the spring 59 will draw the arm 54 to the right of Fig. 4. Pressure of the foot upon treadle 5S will then movethe arm 54 to theleft, so causing pawl 55 to `actu'ate the ratchetwheel and `"one or two ort-hree strokes of this treadle will ordinarily vsuliice to draw the chains 6 taut; after which the screw 60 may be tru-ned in to-lock the parts. f The sprocket vwheels 43 f and locking pins 44 therefore-permit of adjustment of distance between tears by increments equal-to the pitch of the chain; but it is sometimes desirable to provide for still ner adjustment of distancey betweentears. To this'end; each tearer carriagaformed'by grippingvbars 7 and associatedqparts,isprovided vwith a `hingedplate (il, also with a l5) 4which plate 62`is provided with the extension`63 adapted to engage the fabric from one edge ythereof for a short distance inward from such edge. The plate 6l is connected by the pin 64 and link 65 to the adjacent'rod 46' above mentioned. This adjusting device (5l-65 operates to vary the length of fabric held between the gripping device of'a'djacent carriages, without change of distance between' such carriages, inthat its extension 63 constitutes a projection which holds that fabric out of what would otherwise Ibe a straight line connecting the gripping device of adjacent carriages. Since the shortest distance between two points is along a straight line .connecting those points, anything carried by a tearer-carriage 7-7 whichv holds the fabric away from such straight lineincreases the length of fabric heldbetween'the gripping devices of adjacentcarriages. It will be apparent that by adjusting the' position of the slide plate ,(32 with respect to the plate 6l, the additional length of fabric' between the gripping devicesof adjacent carriages may be varied. The adjustment of plate 62 to plate 61 constitutes means for the very exact adjustment to precisely the lengthof fabric desired between successive tears. The connection of the plate 6l by link 65 to the rod 4G causes the plate 61 to assume the angular position shown at the right of Fig. l2 and shown in Fig. 15, and soprevents the extension ($3 'from acting upon the fabric until, the corresponding tearer carriage having reached the bottom of the chain carrier 6-G and having been carried slightly beyond the sprockets 5 at the front end of the machine. the gripper fingers 21 of that carriage haveI closed upon the fabric.

It sometimes happens that, as a piece of the cloth which has been torn off drops, a woof thread or threads of this cloth will be caught in they tearer, causing the piece of cloth to.

hang from th'e'tearer.' To sever any such connectionl have provided cutting means shownl particularly in Figs. 10 and 1.1 and comprising shear blades 66 and (S7, the former of which is secured to a fixed bracket 68, while shear blade 67 is pivoted at 69 to the bracket 68 and is connected at 70 to a bent leverl mounted upon a rock shaft 79. provided with an arm 73 adapted to be actuated by rollers 74 carried by extensions 75 of the tearer carriages. After the roller 74 of each tearer carriage encounters the arm 73, just before that tearer carriage passes around the rear sprockets 5, the shear blade 67 is actuated, so severing any such threads connecting the severed piece of fabric with the tearer of that carriage. As will be i noted, this cutting mechanism is located near thatvside of the machine at which the tearer finishes its operation, viz-the side of the machine opposite that at which the gripper fingers 2l are located.

It sometimes happens that that edge of the fabric at which the tearer emerges is not a selvage edge. In such case it may happen that the tearer, as it emerges from such edge of the fabric will pull with it one or two threads from the edge of the fabric. It is desired that these threads also shall be severed by the shear blades 66 and 6T. To that end guides T6 are provided on the carriages, which will carry such edge-threads between the shear blades 66 and 67. These guides, in the construction shown, are small rods, extending obliquely from that transverse bar 7 of each carriage which is adjacent the front edge of each piece of fabric to be torn, and which inclines backwardly with respect to the direction of progress of the fabric. Such guides 76 will engage threads connecting the corresponding tearer with outer-edge threads of the fabric and will guide them between the shear blades 66 and T, so causing said shear blades to sever.

such threads. Under some conditions it is possible that pressure might be brought to bear on these guides 76 in such way as to bend them, if provision were not made to permit yielding. To this end each guide T6 is connected to its corresponding tearer car-A riage by a spring hinge 77, as indicated particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10. This hinge permits yielding in the direction indicated by the dotted arow 7 7 a in Fig. 10.

The machine is driven by power applied to sprocket shaft 2. For this purpose I have indicated, in Fig. l, a belt wheel 7 8 mounted upon that sprocket shaft.

What I claim is l. A tearing machine comprising means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, in combination with means for tearing such material transversely at spaced intervals, comprising a tearer movable transversely across the material, and means for so moving said tearer.

Q. A tearing machine comprising means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, in combination with means for tearing such material transversely at spaced intervals, comprising a tearer movable transversely across the material, means for so moving said tearer, and means for returning said tearer to its initial position.

3. A tearing machine `comprising a continuously movable carrier having means for .grippping the material to be torn, in combination with tearing means movable across such material while so held.

4c. A tearing machine comprising a continuously movable carrier having means for gripping the material to be torn, in combination with `tearing means movable across such material while so held, comprising a tearer movable transversely across the material, and means for so moving said tearer.

y 5. A tearing machine comprising a con tinuously movably carrier having means for gripping the material to be torn, in combination with tearing means movable across such material while so held, comprising a. tearer movable transversely across the material, means for so moving said tearer, and means for returning said tearer to its initial position.

6. In a tearing machine, the combination with an endless movable carrier, and a tearer carriage movable with such carrier, of a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transversely of the material, and along such carriage.

7 In a tearing machine, the combination with an endless movable carrier, and a tearer carriage movable with such carrier, of a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transversely of the material, and along such carriage, and means for so moving said tearer.

8. In a tearing machine, the combination with and endless movable carrier, and a tearer carriage movable with such carrier, of a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transversely of the material, and along such carriage, means for so moving said tearer,

and means for returning said tearer to its initial position.

9. In a tearing machine, the combination with an endless movable carrier, and a tearer carriage movable with such carrier, of a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transversely of the material, and along such carriage, and a cam for so moving said tearer.

10. In a tearing machine, the combination with an endless movable carrier, and a tearer carriage movable with such carrier, of a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transverselyof the material, and along such carriage, and two cams, one for moving the tearer along the carriage during the tearing operation, the other for returning the tearer.

11. In a tearing machine, the combination with an endless movable carrier, and a tearer carriage movable with such carrier, of a tearer' mounted on such carriage to move transversely of the material, and along such carriage, and a fixed oblique cam arranged to be encountered by the tearer during the movement of the carriage and thereby to cause moyement of the tearer along such carrlage.

12. In a tearing machine, the combination with an endless movable carrier, and a tearer carriage movable with such carrier, of a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transversely of the material, and along such carriage, and two fixed oblique cams arranged .to be engaged successively by the tearerduring the movement of the carriage f and thereby to move the tearertransversely along the carriage and then to return it.

13. In a tearing machine, the combination with an endless movable carrier. of the belt type, and supporting means therefor, such carrier comprising a tearer carriage,"- `of a tearer mounted on such carriage` to move transversely ofthe materialto beV torn, and along such carriage, means for so moving said tearer during the advance motion of its carriage, and means for `returning the' carrier during the return motion of the carriage. v

14. In a tearing machine, the combination With an endless movable carrier ofthe belt type, and supporting means therefor, such carrier comprising a tearer carriage, of a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transversely of the material to .be torn, and

along such carriage, an oblique cani arranged to engage the tearer during the advance movement of the carriage and thereby to cause transverse movement of the tearer along such carriage, and means for returning the tearer arranged to act thereon dur; ing the return movement yof the carriage.

15. In a tearing machine, -the combination with an endless movable carrier of the belt type, and supporting means therefor,

1 such carriercomprising a tearer carriage, of

a tearer mounted on such carriage to move transversely .of the material to be torn, and along such carriage, an oblique cam arranged to engage the tearer during the advance movement of the carriage and thereby to cause transverse movement of tlievtearer along such carriage, and another oblique cam arranged to act upon the tearer during the return motion of the carriage, and thereby to return said tearer.

-lthe tearer, of a tearer mounted on such guide and'adapted to `be moved therealong, and ,l comprising a rounded inclined shoe forming the tearer proper.

19. In a tearing machine, the combination with `a tearer carriage having a guide for the tearer, of. a tearer mounted on `such guide and adaptedtobe moved therealong. comprisingan inclined shoe forming the tearer proper, and means for holding the material to be' torn against such shoe.

20. In atearing machine, thel combination lai-1.8953463 with a tearer carriage having a'guide-` for `the tearer, of a tearer mounted on such guide and adapted to be moved therealonff, comprising an inclined shoe forming the tearer proper, said shoe having a knife aperture, and a cutting knife mounted to lbe projected through such aperture.

21. In a tearing machine, the combination with a tearer carriage, of a tearer mounted to move along such carriage, a cutter mounted in connection with such tearer to engage the material to be torn, and means arranged to hold such cutter in operative position at the initiation of the tearing inoveinelit, and thereafter to retire such cutter.

22. In a tearing machine, the combination with a tearer carriage, and a tearer kmovable therealong, and having in it a cutter-aperture, of a cutter adapted to work in such aperture, and means for holding such cutter in operative position at the beginning of the tearing operation and thereafter to retire said cutter.

tearing operation and thereafter to retire `said cutter, and means, covering such cutter aperture, adapted to hold the material to be torn against the tearer.

24. In a tearing machine, the combination with tearing means, of cutting means arranged to engage the edge of the material to be torn at the initiation of the tearing operation, and thereby to cut the fabric to facilitate the initiation of the tearing operation.

25. In a tearing machine, the combination with means lfor feeding material to be torn through the machine, and tearing means a1'- ranged to tear such material transversely, of means for nicking one edge of the fabric to facilitate initiation of the tear.

2G. In a tearing machine, the combination with means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, and tearing means arranged to tear such material transversely,

of cutting means comprising a movable cutter and operating means therefor arranged to advance such cutter to nick the fabric Vprior to the initiation of the tear, and then to retire such cutter.

27. In atearing machine, the combination -of one or more tearing mechanisms, and

means for carrying such tearing mechanism or mechanisms in the direction of progress of material to be torn, and then returningI means to grasp the material to be torn and `subsequently to releasethe torn, material.

28. In atearing machine,the combination of an endless carrier, rotatable supporting means and automatic operating `means therefor, and cam means arranged to actuate such gripping means to grasp the fabric.

30. In a tearing machine, the combination of an endless carrier, rotatable supporting wheels over which such carrier passes, and one or more tearing mechanisms carried by such endless carrier, comprising gripping means and automatic operating means therefor, and cam means arranged to actuate such gripping means to grasp the fabric and subsequently to again actuate such gripping means to release the torn fabric.

31. yIn a tearing machine, the combination of an endless carrier, rotatable supporting wheels over which such carrier passes, and one or more tearing mechanisms carried by such endless carrier, comprising gripping means and automatic operating means therefor, and cam means arranged to actuatesuch gripping means to grasp the fabric and subsequently to again actuate such gripping means to release the torn fabric, such cam means arranged to actuate the gripping means in the first instance during thevpassage of such gripping means around one of said carrying wheels.

32. In a tearing machine, the combination of an endless carrier, supporting means therefor, one or more tearer-carriages carried by such carrier andeXtending across the vsame and comprising gripper bars,

gripper fingers carried by said gripper bars,

and means for raising said gripper lingers and for pressing said gripper fingers against the gripper bars.

33. In a tearing machine, a tearer carriage comprising a iiXed clamping member in combination with a pivoted gripper 'finger adapted to hold material to be torn between it and said clamping member, and operating means for said gripper finger comprising a member mounted to slide on said carriage, a spring for actuating said sliding member in one direction, said sliding member provided with means for moving it in opposition to such spring, and means connecting said sliding member to the gripper finger to cause opening and closing of said gripper finger.

34. In a tearing machine, a tearer carriage comprising a fixed clamping member in combination with. a pivoted gripper finger adapted to hold material to be torn'between it and said clamping member, said gripper finger having a slotted rear extension, and operating means for said gripper finger com prising a member mounted to slide on the carriage, a spring for moving said sliding member in one direction, said sliding member being provided with means for moving it in opposition to said spring, and a pivoted member connected to said sliding member and provided with means engaging the slot of said gripper finger, whereby motion of said sliding member actuates said gripper linger.

35. In a tearing machine, a tearer carriage adapted to be moved bodily and comprising a fixed clamping member in Acombination with a pivoted gripper finger adapted to hold material to be torn between it and said clamping member, and means for actuating said gripper finger comprising a member mounted for movement on said carriage, and means connecting said movable member to said gripper finger whereby movement of said movable member actuates said gripper linger, said movable member having a proj ection adapted to be engaged as the carriage moves and to be moved along the carriage by reason ofsuch engagement.

36. In a tearing machine, a tearer carriage, and'means for moving the same. bodily, said carriage provided with a clamping member and with a pivoted gripper finger adapted to hold material between it and Said clamping member, `operating means for said` gripper' finger comprising a member mounted to move upon said carriage, and provided with a projection whereby it may be moved, means connecting said movable member to said gripper iinger whereby movement of said movable member actuates said gripper linger, in combination with means adapted to engage such projection as the carriage moves to cause actuation of said gripl'ier finger.

37. ,In a tearing machine, the combination of an endless carrier, means for supporting the same, and one or more nearer-carriages mounted upon said carrier to be moved thereby, such carriage or carriages provided with supporting wheels, and fixed tracks along which such wheels may run.

38. In a tearing machine, the combination .of an endless carrier, supporting means therefor` one or more tearer carriages mounted upon such carrier to be moved thereby, a tearermounted upon-each such carriage and movable therealong, means for so movingsuch tearer and means for receiving the end thrust due to the movement of such tearer.

89. In a tearing machine, the combination of an endless carrier, supporting means therefor, one or more tearer carriages mounted upon such carrier to be moved thereby, a tearer mounted upon each such carriage and movable therealong, means for so moving such tearer, each such carriage provided with wheels for receiving the end thrust due to the motion of such tearer, and fixed tracks along lwhich such wheels may run. l

40. A tearing machine comprising in combination an endless carrier, means for supporting the same, a plurality of separate tearing means mounted upon such carrier at spaced intervals, and means for varying the distance between said tearers.

41. A tearing machine comprising in. combination an endless conveyer and supporting means therefor, said conveyer composed of a plurality of conveyer sections, and means for connecting such sections comprising windingdrum carriers each secured to one end of one of said conveyer sections, and a winding drum mounted upon each such carrier and having thefend portion of the next conveyer section secured to it, and means for locking such winding drums in various positions, whereby the effective length of each suchl section may be varied as desired.

42. .A tearing machine comprising in combination an endless conveyer and supporting means therefor, said conveyer composed of a plurality7 of chain sections, andmeans for connecting such sections comprising winding-sprocket carriers each secured to one end of one of said chain sections, and a winding sprocket mounted upon each such carrier and having the end portion of the next chain section secured to it, and means for locking such winding sprockets in various positions, whereby the effective length of each such chain section may be varied as desired.

43. A tearing machine comprising in combination an endless carrier composed of a plurality of adjustable carrier sections, and means for varying the effective length of each such carrier section, supporting wheels for said carrier andy means for varying the distance between said supporting wheels in accordance with variation of the effective length of the carrier sections, and a plurality of tearing-means each mounted upon a separate section of such carrier, whereby by varying the effective length of the carrier sections and the distance between the supporting wheels of such carrier, the distance between successive tearing means may be varied.

44. In a tearing machine, a tearer car- Copies'of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by

riage, in combination with a tearer adapted to move along such carriage, a cover for such tearer, a cutter adapted to act initially on the fabric to be torn, a common swinging support for said cover and cutter, and automatic means for first moving such cutter into operative position and raising the cutter, and then for retracting the cutter and moving the cover toward the tearer.

45. A tearing machine comprising in combination means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, a tearer adapted to tear the material transversely, and automatic holding means arranged to hold the material on opposite sides of the line of intended tear.

46. A tearing machine comprising in combination means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, a tearer adapted to tear the material transversely, and automatic holding means arranged to hold the material on opposite sides of the line of intended tear and to grasp the fabric at that edge only at which the tear is initiated.

47. A tearing machine comprising in combination, means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, a tearer adapted to tear the material transversely, and means adapted to sever a thread or threads of the material acted upon which may cling to the tearer.

48. A tearing machine comprising in combination, means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, a tearer adapted to tear the material transversely, means adapted to sever a thread or threads of the material acted upon which may cling to the tearer, and means for guiding suoli threads to said severing means.

49. A tearing machine comprising in combination, means for feeding material to be torn through the machine, a tearer adapted to tear the material transversely, means adapted to sever a thread or threads of the material acted upon which may cling to the tearer and yielding means for guiding such threads to said severing means.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS ALLATT. lVitnesses z H. M. MARBLE, PAUL H. FRANKE.

addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C,

Ms.. M.- 

